Some militants still active in Sopore: J&K DGP

THE POLICE CHIEF WAS ON AN INSPECTION VISIT OF THE SOPORE POLICE STATION WHERE 20 PEOPLE WERE HURT IN A GRENADE ATTACK ON OCTOBER 28

SRINAGAR/JAMMU: Few terrorists, including a self-styled LET commander, are active in north Kashmir’s Sopore town and threatening people, including shopkeepers and fruit traders, DGP Dilbag Singh said on Saturday, asserting that security forces will “neutralise” them. The law and order situation has improved in Sopore and elsewhere in the Valley, he said.

The town has been mostly cleared of terrorists and efforts are on to make it terrorism free, the director general of police (DGP) said after inspecting a police station building in Sopore where 20 people were injured in a grenade attack on October 28.

“Sopore became notorious for a large presence of terrorists over the years and was witnessing frequent law and order problems.

“However, the situation has changed due to alertness of police, army and CAPF and cooperation of the people... the area has almost been cleared of terrorists,” Singh told reporters.

There are still “some elements, including a local selfstyled commander of the Lashker-e-toiba (LET) Sajad Ahmad Mir alias Hyder, who is active and threatening people including shopkeepers and fruit traders”, the DGP said. Police and other forces are working to neutralise them,” he said.

Singh also reviewed the crime, law and order and functioning of the police station, a police spokesman said, adding that he stressed on speeding up of operations against the terrorists and those who are involved in disrupting peace and order.